Display or decoration device



July 5, 1932. E. H. HORTON 1,865,758

DISPLAY OR DECORATION DEVICE Filed Sept. 9, 1929 ELS/E h. Hoe TONPatented July 5, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ELSIE E. HORTON, O!MINNEAPOLIS, IIHNESO'IA, ABSIGNOR TO ELSA 0. PAUL, OI

mmoms, .l'A

DISPLAY B DRORATION DEVICE Application flled September 9, 1928. Serialll'o. 891,305.

The present invention has reference to the type of lamps provided withdecorated shades, and more particularly adaptable to use as displaydevices, although quite suitable and attractive for a variety of otheruses, as, for example, in homes, churches, etc.

An object of the invention is to provide a display or decoration devicewhich will present certain improvements over the display or decorationdevice as illustrated and described in my pending a plication forpatirgltssrial No. 328,494, filed December 26,

2 A further object is to provide a display or decoration device whichwill include a plurality of decorated shades two or ore of which areadapted to be moved relat1vely to each other in such manner that figuresor pictures upon and movable with a moving shade of the device can haveapparent motion at a rate of speed faster or slower than the actual rateof speed of the portion of said moving shade having said figures orictures.

A still further object is to provi e a display or decoration devicewhich will include at least three decorated shades two or more of whichare adapted to be moved relatively to each other in such manner thatfigures or pictures upon and movable with a moving :0 shade of thedevice can have apparent motion at a rate of s eed faster or slower thanthe actual rate 0 speed of the portion of said moving shade having saidfigures or pictures, andso that a scenic effect, in which features ofall of the shades of the device are comprehended, is presented to theeye of an observer of the display or decoration device.

A still further and more specific object is to provide a display ordecoration device which will include a plurality of decorated shades twoor more of which are arranged one within the other and are adapted to berotated relatively to each other in such manner that figures or picturesupon and movable withamoving shade of the device can have apparentmotion at a rate of speed faster or slower. than the actual rate ofspeed of rotation of the portion of said moving shade having saidfigures or ictures.

A still further specilib object is to provide speed faster or slowerthan the actual rate of speed of rotation of the portion of said movlngshade having said figures or pictures, and so that a scenic efi'ect, inwhich features of all of the shades of the device are comprehended, ispresented to the eye of an observer of the display or decoration device.

A still further specific object is to provide a display or decorationdevice which will include an outer, decorated, stationary shade, aninner, decorated, rotatable shade within said, outer, decorated,stationary shade, and an intermediate, decorated, rotatable shadebetween said outer, decorated, stationary shade and said inner,decorated, rotatable shade, wherein said inner, decorated, rotatableshade and said intermediate, decorated, rotatable shade are adapted tobe revolved in the same direction, or in opposite directions, in suchmanner that fi res or pictures upon and movable with said intermediate,decorated, rotatable sh e can have apparent motion at a rate of s eedfaster or-slower than the actual rate of speed of the portion of theintermediate, rotatable shade having said figures or pictures, and sothat a scenic efl'ect, in which features of the outer, decorated,stationary shade the intermediate, decorated, rotatable s ade, and theinner, decorated, rotatable shade of the device are comprehended, ispresented to the eye of an observer of the display or decoration device.

A still further specific object is to provide a display or decorationdevice which will include a plurality of decorated shades two or more ofwhich are adapted to be rotated relatively to each other in such mannerthat figures or pictures upon and movable with a moving shade of thedevice can have apparent motion at a rate of speed faster or slower thanthe actual rate of speed of rotation of the portion of said moving shadehaving said 10 figures or pictures, and which will also include meansfor mounting the rotatable shades one within the other, as well as meanscapable of revolving said rotatable shades relatively to each otherpreferred and at any predetermined rates of speed, either in the samedirection, or in opposite directions, as miynin a particular instance bedesirable. d a still further specific object is to provide a device ofthe present character which will include a plurality of rotatable shadesone mounted within and in spaced relation to another, and which willalso include means capable of revolving said rotatable shades relativelyto each other at any preferred and predetermined rates of speed, eitherin the same direction, or in opposite directions, as may in a particularinstance be desirable.

While I have in the accompanying drawing illustrated structure designedto put into effect the several features and characteristics of myinvention, it is to be understood that the disclosure herein is merelyillustrative of rinciple and intended in no sense as limitmg, variouschanges being permissible within the spirit of the invention andthescope of the claims which follow.

In said drawing:

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view of a lamp in which the features ofthe invention are incorporated, showing all of the shades of the lamp insection and the supports for the shades in elevation, the base of thelamp being broken away;

Fi 2 is a view of the shade combination of Fig. 1, partially inelevation, partially in section and partially broken away, to betterdisclose the relation in position, as well as the relation in effect, ofthe decorated portions of all of the shades with respect to each other.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the shade of the lamp of Figs. 1 and 2, partsof the movable shades being broken away and in section to betterdisclose the means whereby said movable shades are rotatable; and

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the movable shades of a lamp of modifiglconstruction having the features of the invention, parts being brokenaway and in section.

With respect to Figs. 1 to 3 of the drawing, numeral 10 represents astandard extending from a lamp base (not shown), 11

designates a lamp socket, and 12 indicates an electric light bulb insaid socket.

The display or decoration device of my invention, denoted generally at13, as disclosed,

consists, speaking broadly, of an outer, stationary shade 14, an inner,rotatable shade 15, in spaced relation to and surrounded by said outer,stationary shade, and an intermediate, rotatable shade 16, interposedbetween said inner, rotatable shade and said outer, stationary shade inspaced relation to each of said inner, rotatable and outer, stationaryshades. For some uses, the two rotatable shades may be employed withoutthe stationary shade.

As shown, all of the shades 14, 15 and 16 are hallow cylinders. Meansfor supporting the outer shade 14 in stationary position upon thestandard may consist of a wire, or wires, 17 seated in any suitablemanner upon the standard, as at 18, and having hooked portions,designated 19, against 'or adjacent to which the lower edge portion ofthe outer, stationary shade 14 is seated. Means for rotatably supportingthe inner, revolvable shade 15 within and in spaced relation to theouter, stationary shade 14, so that it will preferably be concentrictherewith, may consist of a needle stem 20 constituting a part of thewire, or Wires, 17, and havin a needle point 21 engaging a bearing surace 22 axially mounted with respect to blades 23 secured to the top wall24 of the inner, revolvable shade 15, and horizontally situated abovethe light bulb 12. Means for rotatably supporting the intermediate,revolvable shade 16 between the inner, revolvable shade 15 and theouter, stationary shade 14, so that it will preferably be concentric toboth said inner, revolvable shade and said outer, stationary shade, andat equal distance from each, may consist of a needle stem 25constituting a part of the wire, or wires, 17, and having a needle point26 engaging .a bearing surface 27 axially mounted with respect to blades28 secured to the top wall 29 of the intermediate, rotatable shade 16,and horizontally situated above the inner, revolvable shade 15. SeeFig. 1. Heat from the light bulb is adapted to strike the blades 23 and28 in its upward passage, to

' revolve the inner and intermediate, rotatable shades 15 and 16 ontheir vertical axes, each in a manner heretofore well known in thepresent art.

The outer, stationary shade 14 may consist of practically transparent,translucent, or

, opaque material. When said outer shade consists of opaque material, itwill be provided with an opening such as indicated at 30, through whichthe intermediate and the inpier, rotatable shades 16 and 15 will bevisi- The intermediate, or interposed, rotatable shade 16 may desirablyconsist of practically transparent or translucent material.

The inner, rotatable shade 15 may desirably consist of translucent orsemi-transparent material. In some cases perhaps, the inner shade may bedesirably practically transparent.

Referring more particularly to Fig. 2, I have there disclosed theinterposed, or intermediate, rotatable shade 16 provided withdecorations, figures, or pictures 31 to constitute the main part orfeatures of a display. As shown, the decorations, figures, or pictures31 representa sail boat in water. Clearly, these decorations, figures,or pictures 31 could represent any articles or things intended toconstitute the main part or features of a display, and such main part orfeatures would not evidently, necessarily have to do with advertising.

Also in Fig. 2, I have disclosed the inner, rotatable shade 15 providedwith decorations, figures, or pictures 32 intended as suitablebackground for the main decorations, parts, features, figures, orpictures 31 of the dis play and contained by the interposed, orintermediate, rotatable shade 16. As shown, the decorations, figures, orpictures 33 represent trees, foliage, etc., to the fore of the sailbdat. As before, the elements 33 could represent any articles or thingsintended as suitable foreground for the main elements 31 of the display.

Also in Fig. 2, I have disclosed the outer, stationary shade 14 providedwith decorations, figures, or pictures 33 intended as suitableforeground for the main decorations, parts, features, figures, orpictures 31 of the display and contained by the said interposed,

or intermediate, rotatable shade 16. As shown, the decorations, figures,or pictures 33 represent trees, foliage, etc., to the fore of the sailboat. As before, the elements 33 could represent an articles or thingsintended as suitable ore ound for the main elements 31 of the disp ay.

The decorations, figures, or pictures 31,

i 32, and 33 may be associated with the shades :16, 15 and 14,respectively, in any ordinary manner, or in some preferred mannerforming no part of the inventionherein.

Hereinbefore I have suggested materials, as transparent, practicallytransparent, semitransparent, translucent, and opa ue materials, whichare suitably utilizab e in my display or decoration device to constitutethe different shades 14, 15 and 16. It is to be understood, however,that the invention is .not restricted to particular types of materials,except that,transparent or translucent materials, or transparent andtranslucentmaterials' constituting the shades 15 and 16 are, as a wholeand taken as a unit, of that desired transparency or translucency bestsuited to the purpose of allowin the shade 15, or a portion thereof, tobe visi le through the shade 16, and to allow the shades 15 and 16 to bevisible through the shade 14', when .this is of transparent ortranslucent gnaterial,

to a greater or less extent, depending upon the scenic effect desired.

As will be apparent, the rotatable, decorated, shade 16 1s, in thearrangement as fully described, so related to the rotatable, decoratedshade 15 and the stationary, decorated shade 14 that a scenic effect, inwhich features of all of the different elements 31, 32 and 33 of thevshades 16, 15 and 14 will be comprehended and blended, willpresentsition beyond the outer face of the outer, stationary shade ofsaid device.

As will also be apparent, the arran ement of the inner, rotatable orbackgroun shade 15 and the intermediate, rotatable or main display shade16, to revolve relatively to each other in the manner as illustrated andfully described, makes provision whereby the elements 31 upon saidintermediate, rotatable shade 16 can have apparent motion at a rate ofspeed faster or slower than the actual rate of speed of said elements31, for the reasons that when the inner, rotatable shade 15 is made torevolve in a direction opposite to that in which the intermediate,rotatable shade is revolving at a certain rate of speed,

the elements 32 upon the inner, rotatable shade 15, constituting abackground of the display, and the elements 31 of the intermediate,rotatable shade 16, constituting the main part of the display, haverelatively eater movement with res ect to each other t an when'thebackgroun elements 32 are stationar and said elements 31 are revolvingat sald certain rate of speed, and when said inner rotatable shade 15 ismade to revolve in the same direction as said intermediate, rotatableshade is revolving at a certain rate of speed, the elements 32 upon saidinner, rotatable-shade 15, and the elements 31 upon said intermediate,rotatable shade 16 have relatively less movement with respect to eachother than when said background elements 32 are stationary and saidelements 31 are revolving at said certain rate of speed. Obviously, theapparent rate of motion of the elements 31 upon the intermediate shade16 relatively to the actual rate of speed of said elements 31 can bealtered to a considerable extent simply by altering the relative ratesofspeed at which the shades 15 and 16 rotate, either in the same oropposite directions, which alteration of the relative rates of speed ofsaid shades 15 and 16 can be accomplished by suitably altering theblades23 and 28 driven by heat from the light bulb 12, as will beunderstood.

That is to say, the rate of speed may be altered by varying the angleof'the blades with respect to the source of light and heat to subjectmore or less of the surface of the respective blades -to the action of adraft created.

In the form of the invention disclosed in Figs. 1 to 3, the blades 23and 28 are set to rotate the shades 15 and 16 in opposite directions,while in Fig. 4 the blades 23 and 28' are set to rotate the shades 15'and 16 in the same direction.

The shades "14, 15 and 16 need not be cylindrical. They may if preferredbe of some other shape, as for example, conical, hexagonal, octagonal,etc-., or some more or less irregular shape.

With more particular reference to the shade combination as disclosed inFig. 2, when including an opening 30 in an opaque, outer, decorated,stationary shade 14, it will be apparent that the sail boat, or elements31, will be visible opposite said opening 30 for but a short period oftime during each revolution of the shade 16 when revolved in the mannerand b the means as described. By rotation of the shade 15, having thebackground elements 32, in direction opposite the direction of rotationof the shade 16, the sail boat will appear tobe moving faster than it isactually moving, and by rotation of said shade 15 in the same directionas the shade 16, the sail boat will appear to be moving slower than itis actually moving. By proper regulation of the relative rates ofrotation of said shades 15 and 16, the sail boat can be made to appearto be moving at any desired rate 'of speed.

I claim as my invention:

1. A display device of the class described, comprising a plurality ofdecorated shades one within the other, including an inner, movableshade, an outer, stationary shade, and an intermediate, movable shadebetween said inner and outer shades, means for supporting the stationaryshade, and means for supporting and rotating the movable shades, thedecorations on the outer, stationary shade representing stationarysurfaces and objects, the decorations on the inner, movable shade alsorepresenting stationary surfaces and objects, and the decorations on theintermediate, movable shade representing objects that are capable ofmovement, whereby as the inner and intermediate shades are moved anefl'ect is produced simulating the movin of objects with respect to afixed foregroun and background, said objects appearing to have motion atarate of speed other than their actual rate. of s eed.

2. A 'splay device of the class described, comprising a light and heatsource, a plurality of decorated shades arranged one within the otherand about said light and heat source, including an inner, movable shade,an outer, stationary shade, and an intermediate, movable shade between.said inner and outer shades, means for supporting all of the shadesrelatively to the light and heat source, and means including heat fromsaid light and heat source for keeping the movable shades in motionrelatively to each other,the d ora tions on said inner, movable shade ansaid outer, stationary shade representing stationary surfaces andobjects, and the decorations of said intermediate, movable shaderepresenting objects that are capable of movement, whereby as the innerand intermediate shades are moved an effect is produced simulating themoving of objects with respect to a fixed foreground and background,said object-s appearing to have motion at a rate of speed other thantheir actual rate of speed.

3. A display device of the class descri ed, comprising a light and heatsource, a plur lity of decorated shades arranged one within the otherand about said li ht and heat source, including an inner, rotata leshade, an outer, stationar shade, and an intermediate, rotatable s adebetween said inner and outer shades, means for supporting all of theshadesrelatively to the light and heat source,

means including blades on said inner, rotatable shade arranged abovesaid light and heat source and acted upon by heat therefrom for causingsaid inner, rotatable shade to revolve about a vertical axis, and meansincluding blades on said intermediate, rotatable shade arranged abovesaid light and heat source and acted upon by heat therefrom for causingsaid intermediate, rotatable shade to revolve about said inner,rotatable shade, the decorations of said inner, rotatable shade and saidouter, stationary shade representing stationary surfaces and objects andthe decorations on said intermediate, rotatable shade representingobjects that are capable of movement, whereby as the innerandintermediate shades are rotated an effect is produced simulating themoving of objects with respect to a fixed foreground and background,said objects appearing to have motion at a rate of speed other thantheir actual rate of speed.

4. A display device of the class described, comprising a light source, aplurality of decorated shades at least two of which are arranged onewithin the other about said light source and are adapted to be rotatedrelatively to each other, the decorations on an inner, rotatable shaderepresenting stationary surfaces and objects, and the decorations on anouter, rotatable shade representing objects that are capable ofmovement,and means for rotatatingsaid shades relatively to each other in suchmanner that as the mentioned outer, rotatable shade is moved an efiectis produced simulating the moving of objects with respect to a fixedbackground and at a rate of: speed other than the actual rate of speedof rotation of said moving objects; O

5. A display device comprising a plurality of decorated shades onewithin the other, two of said shades being movable relative to eachother, decorations on one of said movable shades representing objectscapable f motion, decorations on the other movable hade representingstationary objects and means for moving said movable shades in oppositedirections to produce an illusion by which said objects appear to havemotion at arate of speed other than the actual rate of moveother,decorations on one of said movable shades representing objects capableof motion, decorations on the other movable shade representingstationary objects, means for .moving said movable shades in oppositedi-

